Museum Folkwang in Essen

Classical Modernism in a Chipperfield building

Once considered the “most beautiful museum of modern art”, today Museum Folkwang is one of Germany’s most renowned art museums.

Museum Folkwang in Essen is one of the most renowned art museums in Germany. Following extensive renovation work, the museum was reopened during the Ruhr’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2010. Star architect David Chipperfield designed an impressive new building to replace the museum’s previous extension, which dated from the 1980s .

In particular, Museum Folkwang’s collection of classical Modernism is unique worldwide. The collection was started by patron of the arts Karl Ernst Osthaus from Hagen at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1922 it was acquired by the city of Essen and has been housed there ever since. This important collection contains works by artists such as Cézanne, Gauguin, van Gogh, Kirchner, Manet, Marc, Matisse, Munch, Rodin and many other notable artists from the late 1800s.

The museum is also home to a world-class photographic collection with works from the 20th century, the post-war era and the present day. A total of around 600 paintings, 300 sculptures and installations and more than 1,800 other works of art can be admired in Museum Folkwang. As well as the permanent exhibitions, there are also numerous top-class temporary exhibitions, often featuring works by world-famous artists such as van Gogh, Hopper, Picasso or Gauguin on loan to the Essen museum. The German Poster Museum is also part of the museum complex, and contains one of the largest specialised collections in the world.